About

Samuel Mascarenhas is a pioneering researcher whose work sits at the intersection of social robotics, human-robot interaction, and affective computing. His research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of how empathy, prosocial behavior, and emotional modeling can transform the way humans relate to robotic and virtual agents. His most influential work, "The Influence of Empathy in Human-Robot Relations" (2012), has garnered over 328 citations and remains a landmark contribution to the field, establishing empathy as a critical design principle for social robots. Alongside complementary studies on modeling empathy in robotic companions, Mascarenhas has built a robust theoretical and practical framework for creating artificial agents capable of meaningful, emotionally responsive interactions. His research has evolved to address increasingly complex social dynamics, including group behavior in human-robot teams, prosociality in collaborative settings, and the nuanced role of trust when robots make mistakes. His 2020 scoping review on prosocial design further demonstrates his ability to synthesize broad research landscapes. With a cumulative citation count exceeding 900, Mascarenhas's scholarship has significantly shaped how researchers and designers approach the development of socially intelligent robots capable of genuine, sustained human connection.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

14
H-Index
24
Papers
957
Total Citations
40
Avg Citations/Paper
🏆 Most Cited Paper
The influence of empathy in human–robot relations
328 citations · 2012
📈 Most Prolific Year: 2020 (5 Papers)
🤝 Key Collaborators: 36
🏛 Institutions: Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores Investigação e Desenvolvimento, University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico, Corvallis Environmental Center

Top Papers

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    Closing the loop
    25 citations · 2010

Key Collaborators

Contact & Links

Available for collaboration
Content generated · 14 days ago